Lincoln museum director fired

Tuesday

Oct 28, 2008 at 12:01 AMOct 28, 2008 at 5:26 PM

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum director Rick Beard was fired from that post today by the Blagojevich administration, amid disclosure of an arrest for shoplifting that was first reported by the State Journal-Register.

Ryan Keith

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum director Rick Beard was fired from that post today by the Blagojevich administration, amid disclosure of an arrest for shoplifting that was first reported by the State Journal-Register.

Illinois Historic Preservation Agency spokesman David Blanchette says Beard, who has been out of state since last week, was notified of his dismissal by telephone today.

He will be replaced in an interim role by Jan Grimes, who is director of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Beard was placed on administrative leave last week after it was revealed he had been charged with trying to steal $40 worth of DVDs from Target in August. Store employees say he also was involved in an incident last November where someone stole more than $200 worth of goods, Sangamon County prosecutors have said.

Beard was charged with misdemeanor theft last year after being caught allegedly trying to steal $300 worth of neckties at a Springfield shopping mall. He received six months of supervision in that case.

Beard, 61, has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges stemming from the August arrest, and his lawyer says he is innocent.

Blanchette said museum officials had no inkling of problems when Beard was hired nearly two years ago.

“He passed the vetting procedure with flying colors,” Blanchette said at a Capitol news conference this afternoon. “He was a great candidate at that time.”